DeltaSigma wrote:
An azalea in our garden. Just reached its peak.
I managed to fire off a few frames during today's 10 minute lunch break.
55mm/1.2 & PK-12 & D610
A lens I don't use as much as I should.
Shot wide open of course.
Colin
These are gorgeous Colin! The same lens/tube combo is on my lens shelf, so I think I'll have to give them a try on my D800E and see if I can come anywhere close to the results you achieved. Maybe I'll even be able to apply the combo to Challenge #7.
I got some great news yesterday: my supervisor at work texted me and told me I can return to work on May 19, which will be very good for my finances . However, as my brother-in-law pointed out, it means the end of my extended stay-cation and overabundance of leisure time .
Here are a few more photos from SoCal in November. The first is a 16mm f/3.5 Ai perspective of the whole lake discussed in my previous post; the second is brought to you by the 105 f/2.5 P, and the third is courtesy of the 28-50 f/3.5 Ai-s.
So this is my moon, rightside up, not so clear sky during the day, just as sharp but shadows are not on so many craters, not as contrasty. 800mm 5.6 TC 301, used higher ISO and speed, Electronic shutter and triggering remote with the iphone.
I need to try my moonshot again. I am still not able to get the moon that sharp. What's your speed?
Someone suggested that I should use a monopod or something to support my camera.
raboof wrote:
I need to try my moonshot again. I am still not able to get the moon that sharp. What's your speed?
Someone suggested that I should use a monopod or something to support my camera.
I only got sharp moon shots using a tripod and a remote shutter release.
kwoodard wrote:
I only got sharp moon shots using a tripod and a remote shutter release.
f/8 1/400th seond at ISO 800 or so, strong tripod with heavy head, no VR, electronic shutter, remote wireless release, shutter delay, focus on liveview at 100% magnification and pray.
Jose uses lower ISO and slower shutter. f/16 1/40 at ISO 200.
rafaelcasd wrote:
f/8 1/400th seond at ISO 800 or so, strong tripod with heavy head, no VR, electronic shutter, remote wireless release, shutter delay, focus on liveview at 100% magnification and pray.
Jose uses lower ISO and slower shutter. f/16 1/40 at ISO 200.
Thanks. Yeah, I use a decent tripod (Bogen 3021) but the 800mm is so heavy, every slight movement will shake the camera. I use the shutter trigger cord so that might also contribute to the shake. I tried to keep the speed around 1/200th. Will keep trying. I know my 800mm is capable. It's just me
The weather took a turn for the worse so, the lighting isnt as nice. Leaving the homeoffice for a few hours is always worth it though.
Nikon 500mm f4 Ai-P on a Sony body.
Ben, those birds are gorgeous. Don't know much about European birds but 1st looks like some kind of Thrush and the 2nd 3rd like a Chaffinch Chaffinches were introduced to South Africa by Cecil Rhodes (of Rhodes scholarship fame) but are restricted to a small area round Cape Town. Unlike his other specials - Common Starling, House Sparrow and Grey squirrel - all because he missed them in England!!
CGrindahl wrote:
Maybe we should set up a Zoom meeting for folks on this thread... I have a Zoom "pro" account which allows for meetings UP TO 100 people...
I do three 12 Step meetings each week on Zoom and have a meeting with some friends once a week. Some friends do family reunions with folks internationally. You and I shared one Skype call as I remember. We'd need to pick a time that isn't too late for our friends in Europe... perhaps 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern and 7 p.m. in Europe... Any thoughts?
So this is my moon, rightside up, not so clear sky during the day, just as sharp but shadows are not on so many craters, not as contrasty. 800mm 5.6 TC 301, used higher ISO and speed, Electronic shutter and triggering remote with the iphone.
Oosty wrote:
Ben, those birds are gorgeous. Don't know much about European birds but 1st looks like some kind of Thrush and the 2nd 3rd like a Chaffinch Chaffinches were introduced to South Africa by Cecil Rhodes (of Rhodes scholarship fame) but are restricted to a small area round Cape Town. Unlike his other specials - Common Starling, House Sparrow and Grey squirrel - all because he missed them in England!!
Hey thanks a lot Oosty!
Indeed the first one is a song trush - Turdus philomelos- .The name is well deserved in my opinion, they have a marvelous voice!
Second and third photo are one and the same bird, its a Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs). I am on the lookout for a male Common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), need to frequent other areas to locate one though.
Regards,
asiostygius wrote:
Ben, what superb samples with this tele. I had two copies in different times of this tele but I was unlucky since both were not the sharpest specimens. Glad to see your copy of the lens is in superb shape and is put for a good use in capable hands.
Keep more samples coming!
Thank your very much for the kind words Jose. Based on the serial number of my lens -you can look them all up
my copy is from the very last few made in 2005. So its only old-ish rather than stoneage.
It was a rather popular item for its class with around 7500 copies being produced. Mine is in pristine condition but still I am astonished by the quality this lens produces even on 42Mpx. I almost always shoot wide open. Nonetheless I am on the hunt for a 600mm. I find 500mm for anything but large waterfowl too short. I guess I could try a TC14B, but where I live and like to shoot, f5.6 is too slow for my tastes. I will definitely keep the 500mm, its plain gorgeous. Before that I had a 400mm f3.5 Ai-S, but was dissatisfied with wide open performance and the balance was not as good as with the 500mm- and the 500 isn't great in that regard to begin with.
Indeed the first one is a song trush - Turdus philomelos- .The name is well deserved in my opinion, they have a marvelous voice!
Second and third photo are one and the same bird, its a Common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs). I am on the lookout for a male Common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), need to frequent other areas to locate one though.
Regards,
Ben
Ben,
Where do you normally go 'birding'?
There are multiple large green spaces in Berlin.
Are you in the middle of the city or further out?
I love Berlin. It is my favourite European city outside of the UK.
I always have a fantastic time when I am there.
Work related plans to go there in September are looking doubtful.
. However, as my brother-in-law pointed out, it means the end of my extended stay-cation and overabundance of leisure time 
.
